It has been widely known for a while now that the standard of phones being sold in the country is nothing to write home about, save for a few recognised and already established brands. While there has been little to nothing no one can do about it, it seems that there will be a change in the status quo in the coming months. This assumption is informed from the statement of the Minister of Communications on a visit to the Computer Village market in Lagos.
Dubbed the Silicon Valley of Nigeria, the Computer Village has gone on to improve in leaps and bounds when it comes to technology. The growth of this market is even more pronounced in the sense that it was not supported by the government nor any other independent bodies till it started to make waves on its own. If that success is to be built upon though, the influx of substandard phones and gadgets into the market needs to be checked.
Speaking on his visit, Mr. Adebayo Shittu concluded that it was high time Nigeria considers structuring her own mobile phones and gadget regulation industry. That will restore normalcy and sanity to the market, ensuring that the country does not become a dumping ground for poor brands.
Likewise, he mentioned that the local telecoms companies should also be supported in the production of more devices for Nigerians to use. By so doing, the consumers have an array of easily accessible and cheap options, compared to when they would rather go for the substandard products from abroad.
Looking at things from the economy’s point of view, the increment in import of these substandard phones came at around the time when the economy was in a crisis. Those sub-par brands know that not everyone would be able to afford to buy the registered and recognised brands, and thus, used that as an entry into the market. There have been complaints from the consumer market, but until something of the suggested sort is done, there might be little the consumers, and the market, can do about it.